The Dutch foundation Boomfeestdag wants the Climate summit in Paris to sign a treaty to stimulate to children plant more trees. According to the foundation, planting an own tree would add to the nature-consciousness of children. This way children could be more involved with the climate problems.

The foundation Nationale Boomfeestdag is committed to the education for children about nature. Since the start 60 years ago, Dutch school children planted already more than 11 million trees. Each year the foundation organizes one day ‘De Boomfeestdag’ on which children all over the country plant together a number of trees. In 2016 the national manifestation will be organized in Den Bosch. The theme is ‘Trees and Forests’.

The nursery is in Italy (in value) 5% of the national agricultural production and contributes 14% to the formation of European flower production. The province of Pistoia is the heart of the Italian nursery and affects over 5,200 hectares, with 1,500 hectares of pot plants, 1,500 companies and over 5,500 direct employees (2,500 employees) in addition to industries, the PLV is over 300 million euros which exported 160.

The substrates are defined as “material other than soils in situ where plants are grown.” A Pistoia is estimated consumption of growing media of approximately 600,000 cubic meters / year, while in Italy the consumption of more than five million cubic meters / year.

The culture substrate influence: the absorption of the mineral elements and the availability of water and air and determines the development of a more or less balanced root system.

The raw materials are usually mixed according to specific doses.

The global sustainability is directly linked to the limitation of the impoverishment of stocks of raw materials and the reduction of CO2 emissions related to their use.

The substrate is now a key component of the nursery production process and it affects both the quality and the economic result.
Research must consider all plant-substrate-container in respect of each production process and the target market of the finished product.

The meeting had a great focus on Plant Health with discussions driven by Mr Marc Van Hulle, chairman of the ENA EU Legislation Working Group. The General Assembly widely deliberated about Xylella fastidiosa. Delegates at ENA expressed their concerns about this disease and also stated their confidence that the European nurseries are acting properly, in accordance with the regulations and at the highest level of plant health. The General Assembly confirmed ENA is strongly in favor of the robust measures adopted by the European Commission to prevent the spread of this disease in Europe but, at the same time, is against any additional measures implemented by EU Member States preventing the free circulation of goods within the EU. It was also agreed to ask the European Commission for significant high funding that will allow 1) rapid reaction against the first detections, including compensation for owners if eradication measures must be taken and 2) start or enhance R&D projects to prevent and fight against Xylella and other quarantine pests and diseases.

The General Assembly debated about the effects of the EU Regulation on the Invasive Alien Species on plants produced and marketed by European nurseries. It was stated that the Regulation does not provide for any exceptions for varieties obtained with the purpose of creating sterile and non-invasive forms. The Regulation refers without exception to species as lower rank taxa, while there are many non-invasive varieties and cultivation forms on the market; for example, sterile varieties not producing seeds. It was agreed to offer the ENA specialists support to the European Commission’s committees on Invasive Alien Species.

Leon Smet, chairman of the ENA International Plant Names List Working Group, updated the delegates about changing names and adding new species and varieties to the list. It was decided to finish the names compilation work by the end of summer to have time during autumn to review it, with the aim of publishing the new International Plant Names List in early 2016 (www.internationalplantnames.com).

All ENA delegates shared information about the trends on plant production and internal and export markets of nurseries in each country, summarized in a table that ENA President Mr Tim Edwards proposed to update twice a year.

The summer meeting finished visiting Splendor Plant (www.spelndorplant.se), one of Sweden’s largest nurseries, and Tönnersjö Nursery (www.tonnersjo.se), one of Sweden’s largest tree producers, guided by Patrick Svensson, the Swedish nurseryman and Vice-President of ENA.

DAYS TECHNICAL SOI in 2015 were held at the CRA-VIV Pescia on 27-28 May 2015 in fact organized by CRA-VIV (Research Unit for the nursery and the management of green environment and ornamental) and SOI (Italian Society of Horticulture ) with the punctual and pleasant direction of Dr. Daniel Massa and Dr. Gianluca Burchi.

The primary objective of the Technical Seminars SOI has been to provide a broad view of the possibilities and potential of the subjects covered, proposing solutions and providing factual information and transferred to the working world.

The first day was devoted to technical visits to Pistoia Nurserey Park Vannucci Plants and all’Agraria Checchi leader of the District for the production of substrates customized for different nurseries.
The nursery is in Italy (in value) 5% of the national agricultural production and contributes 14% to the formation of European flower production. The province of Pistoia is the heart of the Italian nursery and affects over 5,200 hectares, with 1,500 hectares of pot plants, 1,500 companies and over 5,500 direct employees (2,500 employees) in addition to industries, the PLV is over 300 million euros which exported 160.

Substrates
The substrates are defined as “material other than soils in situ where plants are grown.” A Pistoia is estimated consumption of growing media of approximately 600,000 cubic meters / year, while in Italy the consumption of more than five million cubic meters / year.
The culture substrate influence: the absorption of the mineral elements and the availability of water and air and determines the development of a more or less balanced root system.
The raw materials are usually mixed according to specific doses.
The global sustainability is directly linked to the limitation of the impoverishment of stocks of raw materials and the reduction of CO2 emissions related to their use.
The substrate is now a key component of the nursery production process and it affects both the quality and the economic result.
Research must consider all plant-substrate-container in respect of each production process and the target market of the finished product.

Conference on moorland protection and peat replacement in northern Germany

In the UN Year of the Soil, an international conference about the “Protection of moor as a municipal contribution to climate protection” will take place on 11 and 12 June 2015 in Germany. The venue for this annual conference of the European Land and Soil Alliance of Cities, Counties and Municipalities (ELSA) e.V. is the Europäisches Fachzentrum Moor und Klima (European Knowledge Centre Moor and Climate) in Wagenfeld in Lower Saxony.

The event is a cooperation between the European Land and Soil Alliance (ELSA) e.V., Osnabrück, and MOORWELTEN (“MOORWORLDS”), the European Knowledge Centre Moor and Climate in Wagenfeld. The patron if the conference is Stefan Wenzel, Lower Saxony Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate Change.

The conference is aimed primarily at municipal representatives from the areas of climate / soil conservation and environment protection. However, it is also addressed to experts and stakeholders from the fields of peat, climate and soil protection, businesses and associations as well as (international) institutions, consultants, associations and networks dealing with environmental / climate or soil issues, and others interested in the topic.

The objectives of the conference are broadly defined: Experts from science, industry and municipalities will report; potential, methods and limits of moorland protection will be presented and there will be information about best practice examples as well as funding opportunities. The conference also wants to stimulate interdisciplinary and international discussions and will be providing occasions for networking.

Program priorities / workshops:
Organic soils and climate
Sustainable use of wetlands – is that possible?
Valuation and financing of moorland protection measures
Gardening without peat – is that possible? Insights from practice and research
Regeneration of raised bogs in practice – excursion in the Diepholzer Moorniederung, the surrounding moor landscape.

Participation fees
100, – € registration fee (including documentation, catering and excursion)
25, – € dinner on June 11, 2015
Please be aware that most of the lectures will be in German. Detailed information can be downloaded from http://www.bodenbuendnis.org/tagung-2015/ and is found under Tagungsprogramm.